“Yes You Can” Afford Plastic Surgery… Despite the Ugly Economy

Six Cosmetic Treatments To Put Your Best Face Forward in 2009

(ARA) – With unemployment at an all-time high, it is becoming a necessity for Americans to put their best face forward, which is why more and more of us are turning to less costly, non-invasive cosmetic “touch ups” to look competent and feel confident whether in the workplace, or pounding the pavement.

Recession-driven job losses have put more baby boomers and workers in their 50s back into the job market, and they are competing with people in their 20s and 30s. Many are looking at improving their appearance as an investment they can’t afford not to make. Fortunately, a number of safe, effective and non-invasive anti-aging treatments, offered by trained and board-certified facial plastic surgeons, are now available at competitive costs.

Six popular treatments for cost-conscious consumers:

1.

Botox injections — In use for medical purposes for more than five decades, Botox was approved in 2002 for cosmetic use by the FDA for the temporary improvement of glabellar lines, the vertical lines between eyebrows. Since its approval, millions upon millions of people have been treated with Botox, and to date, according to the annual survey of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), Botox was still the most requested non-invasive procedure in 2008.

2.

Wrinkle fillers — Wrinkles not only make you look older, but they can cause others to misread your emotions, especially if the wrinkles are in areas of the face normally associated with frowning or other negative expressions. Wrinkle fillers like collagen and hyaluronic acid add volume to the skin to soften or eliminate the appearance of wrinkles and provide a more youthful, rejuvenated appearance.

3.

Laser treatments — Non-invasive laser procedures can help reduce wrinkles around the eyes and lips, even the surface of the face, and remove blemishes like birthmarks, skin growths, acne, spider veins, warts and even some tattoos.

Minimally invasive surgery — Facial plastic surgeons have developed methods for minimizing the invasiveness of some of the most popular facial surgeries, including face lifts, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and rhinoplasty, reducing pain and recovery times for many patients.

6.

Lip augmentation — Several procedures are available to give lips a fuller, plumper, and more youthful look while reducing the appearance of fine lines around the lips.

Americans undergo more than 2 million facial plastic surgery procedures each year. Yet the majority of Americans seem unaware of whom they should turn to for such procedures.

If you or a loved one are thinking of enhancing your competitive edge in the workplace by improving your appearance, it’s important to find a compassionate, knowledgeable facial plastic surgeon you trust.

The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery offers helpful resources, including information about different types of surgery, on its website, www.facemd.org. With more than 2,700 members whose practices concentrate on the face, head and neck, the AAFPRS can help you find the right, qualified facial plastic surgeon for your needs.